Here I am in Anchorage! I have to make this brief, cuz "Guns, Germs, and Steel" is on TV and I want to see what Jared Diamond has to say live and in person. I read the book last semester, and also the second book "Collapse" which I thought was much better.
So... I left you after our first night. Hmmm... Day Two had us drive down the Seward Highway a little ways to Beluga Point, a little past... took some pictures, saw a mountain sheep, and I bought new glasses at Dimond Center. New glasses, and prescription sunglasses! It's comforting to be able to see the mountains clearly.
That evening we went to Chilkoot Charlie's. If you know anything about Anchorage, that is the bar that Playboy called the Best Bar in Alaska... or something like that. It's huge... many rooms, like a club and like a bar... and ALL kinds of people. Steve, our Guy on the Couch, and part-time cheauffer, drove us to the bar and picked us up later. Oh, and shortly after we got to the bar, I gave him a call and made him come back to bring me my thong panties which I thought I should be wearing. I'm such an asshole.
We got all swilly, hung out with a bunch of people and got hit on by crowds of drunkards. One guy brushed past me and said "How you doin'? I'm good. I'm sooooo good," and he leaned in for the "soooo" part, letting me know just how eager he was. I laughed out loud. So much fun!
As you walk into Koot's, there is a sign warning guys of the Hat Rules. Apparantly, if you wear a hat, it must be FORWARD or BACKWARD, but not sideways... or you risk eviction for improper style. So I took it as my mission to turn all hats askew. Silly, I know, but it's an effective way to start a conversation with a bunch of strangers. We spent most of the time in the outside bar, which was lit with a sunny Alaskan sky... After midnight and dusk still bright? Crazy!
Hmmm... Ray, I never told you this part... but you never asked. As we were trying to leave, I ran back in to find a bathroom. I was drunk, I got lost, and ended up in a room I'd never been in before. It was big Dance Party Room, and I ran into a guy named Joe, whom I'd met earlier. He grabbed me and made me dance with him. And he kissed me. Oh, yes, it was nice, but I was leaving! And I didn't feel right kissing him. So I pushed away and went back outside to where Holly and our Cheauffer were waiting. I feel a little guilty for that, but it was just a kiss.
Anyway, the next morning I got a phone call from my man in Philly, and I feel ever so much better knowing he loves me and I don't have to resort to abusing the homeless young men here. Hahaha!
The next day, we drove down to Seward to visit Wes. On the way, we stopped at Exit Glacier. I have many awesome pictures, which will someday be posted somewhere. Holly got right up close to the glacier to take pictures (can't keep the photographer from her art) and a local guide yelled at us, saying that we were gonna get killed if we got too close! Naturally, Holly ignored his advice, and got some lovely closeups of the icy cracks.
In Seward, we reunited with our buddy Wes from Philly, who gave us a tour of Miller's Landing where he works, then we went into town to the Yukon for a night of Karaoke, beer, and pool. Oh, and more creepy Alaskan guys to hit on us. Hahaa... Holly let one buy her drinks, and I swear he was dumb as a post. But most of the people there were cool, especially Wes's friends from Miller's Landing, and we had an awesome times. We played pool until the bar closed, and then as most of the locals headed to a bar called the Pit, we decided to drive home to Anchorage. The Pit is just outside the town, so it is allowed to be open later... but it is an incredibly sketchy bar, we were told. In fact, Wes warned us against it. "If I was gonna let any two girls go there, it would be you two, but I still say don't go. If you go, watch your backs, and watch your drinks." Nice that he has that kind of confidence in us, but we didn't feel like fending off more drunken Alaskans. Oh, those drunken Alaskans!
As you remember from the wall in the Ladies' Room at Darwin's Theory in Anchorage: Alaska is the #1 state for reported rape. One man at Koot's told us that 80% of those women are Alaska Native. Crazy!
Hmmm... the next day, yesterday, we drove to Whittier, took the tunnel through the mountain. But when we got there, the skies were cloudy and the mountains were blocked. So we missed out on taking pictures of Prince William Sound. On our way home we stopped in Girdwood and had some tasty sammiches at Chair Five. Ohhh... salmon and avocado go so goood together!
Today we have hung around the house and read books, pretty chill. It's still early, swo we plan on investigating some of the local bars. Holly needs to hoook up with some local coool cats, so when I leave, she won't miss me so much.
Sometime tomorrow or the next day, we're headed up towards Denali and Fairbanks, to camp and explore and take more pictures. I'll keep you updated.
By the way, Steve is asleep on the bed next to me, and his eyes are slightly open. It's kind of creepy.
Have fun! Sorry I can't reply to all your messages. I'll try to update again soon!
So... I left you after our first night. Hmmm... Day Two had us drive down the Seward Highway a little ways to Beluga Point, a little past... took some pictures, saw a mountain sheep, and I bought new glasses at Dimond Center. New glasses, and prescription sunglasses! It's comforting to be able to see the mountains clearly.
That evening we went to Chilkoot Charlie's. If you know anything about Anchorage, that is the bar that Playboy called the Best Bar in Alaska... or something like that. It's huge... many rooms, like a club and like a bar... and ALL kinds of people. Steve, our Guy on the Couch, and part-time cheauffer, drove us to the bar and picked us up later. Oh, and shortly after we got to the bar, I gave him a call and made him come back to bring me my thong panties which I thought I should be wearing. I'm such an asshole.
We got all swilly, hung out with a bunch of people and got hit on by crowds of drunkards. One guy brushed past me and said "How you doin'? I'm good. I'm sooooo good," and he leaned in for the "soooo" part, letting me know just how eager he was. I laughed out loud. So much fun!
As you walk into Koot's, there is a sign warning guys of the Hat Rules. Apparantly, if you wear a hat, it must be FORWARD or BACKWARD, but not sideways... or you risk eviction for improper style. So I took it as my mission to turn all hats askew. Silly, I know, but it's an effective way to start a conversation with a bunch of strangers. We spent most of the time in the outside bar, which was lit with a sunny Alaskan sky... After midnight and dusk still bright? Crazy!
Hmmm... Ray, I never told you this part... but you never asked. As we were trying to leave, I ran back in to find a bathroom. I was drunk, I got lost, and ended up in a room I'd never been in before. It was big Dance Party Room, and I ran into a guy named Joe, whom I'd met earlier. He grabbed me and made me dance with him. And he kissed me. Oh, yes, it was nice, but I was leaving! And I didn't feel right kissing him. So I pushed away and went back outside to where Holly and our Cheauffer were waiting. I feel a little guilty for that, but it was just a kiss.
Anyway, the next morning I got a phone call from my man in Philly, and I feel ever so much better knowing he loves me and I don't have to resort to abusing the homeless young men here. Hahaha!
The next day, we drove down to Seward to visit Wes. On the way, we stopped at Exit Glacier. I have many awesome pictures, which will someday be posted somewhere. Holly got right up close to the glacier to take pictures (can't keep the photographer from her art) and a local guide yelled at us, saying that we were gonna get killed if we got too close! Naturally, Holly ignored his advice, and got some lovely closeups of the icy cracks.
In Seward, we reunited with our buddy Wes from Philly, who gave us a tour of Miller's Landing where he works, then we went into town to the Yukon for a night of Karaoke, beer, and pool. Oh, and more creepy Alaskan guys to hit on us. Hahaa... Holly let one buy her drinks, and I swear he was dumb as a post. But most of the people there were cool, especially Wes's friends from Miller's Landing, and we had an awesome times. We played pool until the bar closed, and then as most of the locals headed to a bar called the Pit, we decided to drive home to Anchorage. The Pit is just outside the town, so it is allowed to be open later... but it is an incredibly sketchy bar, we were told. In fact, Wes warned us against it. "If I was gonna let any two girls go there, it would be you two, but I still say don't go. If you go, watch your backs, and watch your drinks." Nice that he has that kind of confidence in us, but we didn't feel like fending off more drunken Alaskans. Oh, those drunken Alaskans!
As you remember from the wall in the Ladies' Room at Darwin's Theory in Anchorage: Alaska is the #1 state for reported rape. One man at Koot's told us that 80% of those women are Alaska Native. Crazy!
Hmmm... the next day, yesterday, we drove to Whittier, took the tunnel through the mountain. But when we got there, the skies were cloudy and the mountains were blocked. So we missed out on taking pictures of Prince William Sound. On our way home we stopped in Girdwood and had some tasty sammiches at Chair Five. Ohhh... salmon and avocado go so goood together!
Today we have hung around the house and read books, pretty chill. It's still early, swo we plan on investigating some of the local bars. Holly needs to hoook up with some local coool cats, so when I leave, she won't miss me so much.
Sometime tomorrow or the next day, we're headed up towards Denali and Fairbanks, to camp and explore and take more pictures. I'll keep you updated.
By the way, Steve is asleep on the bed next to me, and his eyes are slightly open. It's kind of creepy.
Have fun! Sorry I can't reply to all your messages. I'll try to update again soon!
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[Edited on Jul 13, 2005 3:13PM]
~cheers